MINUTES

CLEVELAND WHIST CLUB

NORTHEAST OHIO UNIT 125

BOARD MEETING December 29, 2010

PRESENT: Ginny Young, Barb Greenspan, Geraldean Jones, Harriet Kitay, Rosemary Kleis, Ellen Miles, Sue Pisanelli, Jim Stahl, Kermit Wolford.

ABSENT: Barb Bacon, Fleur Howard, Frank Scali, Ros Sukenik, Kathy Sulgrove, Mary Lou Vermerris.

GUESTS: Sharon Fairchild, Cathy Wolford.

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by the president, Ginny Young, at her home in Hudson, Ohio with a quorum present.

The minutes of the November 3, 2010 Board Meeting were approved with on correction. The treasurer’s report should read, “Cathy Wolford has filed the Form 990 for the unit by the 10/15/10 due date. A motion to approve with the correction was made by Harriet Kitay and seconded by Geraldean Jones. The motion to approve was accepted.

Cathy Wolford gave the Treasurer’s Report. The financial reports for the Summer IMP League, Master/Future Master, 499er Sectional and Buckeye State Sectional were handed out. A summary of the Sectional financial results for the last ten years was handed out for comparison.

The Buckeye state Tournament had a gain of almost $500 in spite of attendance of only 224 tables, the lowest in history since Cathy has been treasurer.  The net income is due to lower expenses - $1,000 less in rent expense and $450 less in coffee/pop expense.  So if the attendance had been in the average range, a net income of about $2,000 could have been expected.   For reference, except for last year, the table count for this tournament exceeded 280 in the last 5-6 years.  So, I think we need to stick to the
$10 entry fee for the April tournament as long as it is announced well in advance.  A $1 increase in the entry fee generates a minimum of $1,000 in revenue (225 tables x 4 people) and hopefully more.

Cathy reports that she has drafted the 2010-2011 budget and has sent it to the Budget Committee for review. The preliminary results show an expected loss of $500 for the year. This is really about break even because without the change in the membership dues reimbursement schedule, we would have about $900 more in revenue by 5/31/2011. It is a timing difference. The projected net loss of $500 compares to an actual net loss of $2,174 last year. The budget reflects the things that she already knows and projected amounts, such as the decrease in director fees due to using the tournament assistant, reduced rent and coffee/pop expenses for the April Tournament. The increased entry fee of $10 per session for the April tournament has been included. She is also reducing the expected income from the weekly game and the interest income from the Unit CDs. When the budget has been reviewed it will be presented to the board.

Cathy has done a marvelous job and encourages questions regarding the budget.

Ginny Young, President, reports that Fred Eberlin has changed the site for one session of his club.

Peter Miller is interested in running for the board but does not want to chair the Vichill League next year. We will need a Vichill League chair for 2011. No board member volunteered. Flight captains need to be named.

Summer IMP League also needs a chair. Jim Stahl volunteers to run the Summer IMP League. A site for the Summer IMP League is needed.

The sites for the April and November Tournaments have been locked in. They will be held at the Garfield Heights Knights of Columbus Hall. The August tournament site is still in question. The Garfield Heights KofC Hall may not be available due to the opportunities they have for Wedding Receptions in August. The Solon Community Center is booked for August. However Ginny reports that they will negotiate the rental fees for future events. The Race Tract is still a possibility. Fleur and Sue, committee for sites, need to meet with Barb Bacon to lock in a site for the August Tournament. It is possible that an answer about the Garfield Heights site may be available the first week of January. The Beachwood Community Center is too small for that tournament. The concern is the ACBL date for the Tournament Information link.

Kermit Wolford has requested that we find a new Hospitality Chair. We need a volunteer for this position. Kermit has done an outstanding job as the Hospitality Chair. Ginny commended him on his service to the board. Kermit will coach a new chair for the April Tournament. He will be much missed.

Ginny Young, Geraldean Jones, Barb Bacon, Sue Pisanelli, and Kermit Wolford will be going off the board this year. Suggestions for the soon to be vacant positions are needed. The election of the board takes place in April at the sectional. Possible Board Candidates mentioned include: Phil Becker (firm), Susan Stark (possible), Peter Miller (firm), Edie Dus-Garden (possible last year), Bev McMullen (possible this year), Tommie Ruehr (should be approached). Other suggestions were Barb Bacon, John and Judy Spooner. Candidates from the West Side should be encouraged to diversify the board.

Harriet Kitay, Barb Greenspan, and Ellen Miles reported for the Unit Game Committee. They suggest that since some events such as the STAC Swiss and the Master/Future Master Game seem to be popular, that 3 or 4 events similar to these be put together and brought back to the board. The idea would be to have several special events a year instead of a weekly Unit Game which does not seem to be successful.

Sharon Fairchild reports that the Grand National Teams Competition will be held the 1^st week in May in Buffalo.

Harriet Kitay submitted a report for the November 2010 sectional. She reported that the Knights of Columbus Hall was a very good location. Discussions with attendees reveled that they liked the hall and agreed that it was a central location and easy to get to. The lighting was good. The bathrooms had problems that need to be addressed. There must be a representative from the hall on site at all times. The chairperson must have telephone numbers of a contact from the Knights of Columbus. When problems arose, it was difficult to find a person to help.

Harriet reports that there needs to be 2 large coffee pots for coffee. She reports that the tables for snacks and beverages are in constant need of straightening. It was suggested that there is a need to hire someone to make coffee as it runs out and keep the snack tables cleaned and replenished. The would also be expected to help with serving and clean up.

Harriet included other helpful recommendations. The beverages and snacks need to be in the back of the hall near the bar. The lunch should be in the front near the kitchen. Large trash bags are needed for trash. Extra bins are needed for by the food and beverage tables. Brown lunch bags are needed for the tables. She also included suggestions for the Sunday Swiss lunch, snacks, silver and other supplies.

The crucial need seems to be a person to help out with the food and beverage tables and service.

John and Judy Spooner are writing the Bridging the Gap publication now. They need contributions.

The tournament Assistants were discussed again. One person wants to take the test to be a TA. This person requests assistance from the board for the test fee. It was discussed. The consensus of the board was that the board is not willing to pay for the course at this time.

Jim Stahl will help with tables for the regional in January. It was suggested that now might be a good time to approach the Knights of Columbus at Solon again about the purchase of the bridge tables that we have been using.

DATE AND TIME FOR NEXT MEETING: Wednesday; January 12, 2011 at 5pm between the sessions of the Regional at Independence.

HOSPITALITY: The board will meet at the hotel restaurant for dinner and all agree to pay for their own meals.

Ellen Miles made a motion for adjournment, seconded by Rosemary Kleis. The motion was seconded and approved. The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Pisanelli, Secretary.